Precision Medicine

Precision Medicine is an emerging, evolving field whereby increasing amounts of different types of information are used to shape prevention, prediction, diagnosis and treatment at population, patient group and individual level. It is the way of the future.

In response to this, HISA has established a Precision Medicine Community of Practice to engage, inform and influence the HISA community and the broader health ecosystem on this important area. We want to ensure that the informatics community understands what Precision Medicine is, the initiatives internationally and here in Australia, ongoing developments in this field and the challenges it raises so that we can support its introduction into our health system. This will make us better positioned to ensure that data/information requirements and standards are understood and in place and technology solutions evolve to support the increasing use of Precision Medicine.

MembershipLeadershipResources

Precision Medicine MembershipGet Involved!

Are you interested in or involved in precision medicine? If you have suggestions, ideas or would like to get involved in this community of practice please contact us.

Leadership

Kathy Campbell (Chair)

Director
Ockham Consulting Pty Ltd

Kathy Campbell has held executive roles in healthcare over the past 15 years with providers, consulting firms and vendors in Australia and overseas, including as IM & ICT Project Director for the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and as CIO of UnitingCare Health. Kathy now provides consulting assistance to organisations such as Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, Queensland Genomics Health Alliance, Queensland Health and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. She also served as a non-executive director of one of Australia’s largest not-for-profit hospitals, aged care and community services providers.

Kate Birch

Data & Technology Program Manager
Melbourne Genomics
Health Alliance

Kate Birch believes that we have an opportunity to learn from every patient, every interaction, every time, to deliver healthcare that is effective, sustainable and equitable. To do this, she delivers health IT projects that better support care delivery, clinical practise, research and operations. Kate manages the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance Data & Technology Program, which is delivering GenoVic. GenoVic is a leading-edge system for the management of genomic data, being built by and for the 10 members of the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance. Supporting improved testing, patient care, and medical research, GenoVic will facilitate secure and ethical use and sharing of reliable genomic information. GenoVic encompasses common infrastructure, standards, policies and procedures for genomics across Alliance members, currently including all the laboratory providers of genomic sequencing in Victoria. Kate’s career has taken a “bench to bedside” trajectory. She began as a molecular biologist, moving into epidemiological and then clinical research, and then clinical project delivery. She has consulted to the health industry with Deloitte, has executive level experience in a clinical research centre, and has an extensive working knowledge of medical research and hospital based information management requirements, barriers and opportunities. Kate has a proven ability to work successfully in complex stakeholder environments to develop information system strategy, design and implement data governance activities, and to curate, manage and integrate large medical research datasets. Kate has a Bachelor of Science (Honours), a Masters in Information Systems and is a Certified Health Informatician (Australasia).

David Bunker

Executive Director
Queensland Genomics
Health Alliance

David Bunker is the Executive Director of the Queensland Genomics Health Alliance. He has a commitment to health and social outcomes, and values-based business transformation. His commitments include significant voluntary contribution to NFP Boards, Graduate Business Schools, as well as Professional Societies and Academic Colleges. His current focus with the Queensland Genomics Health Alliance is to fast track genomics research and its translation into common healthcare practice, while building a sound, evidence-based decision making framework for strategic capability and capacity building programs within the health system. Board, College and Society Membership: Director – Epilepsy Queensland; Fellow and Membership Committee Chair – Australasian College of Health Informatics; Steering Committee Member – Cybersecurity CoP, Health Informatics Society of Australia; Advisor – Executive MBA Program, QUT Graduate School of Management; Reviewer – International Journal of Medical Informatics.

Dr Jon Carrano

Owner
Pharmsite

Jon has a long standing interest in clinical research and health data analytics and combines a background in biomedical research with technical experience implementing solutions for clinical trials and pharmacovigilance. Improving patient selection for clinical trials and novel approaches to treatment methodologies are among Jon’s current interests. Jon was previously local General Manager & Regional Director in the management team of leading US based software organisations. During that period Jon led sales and managed a consulting team implementing corporate software and developing local solutions. Clients included commercial, academic and government customers in Australia and Asia. In 2014, Jon founded Pharmsite to continue providing best-of-breed software solutions, particularly suited to the Australian market. Jon is on the HISA NSW Committee and contributes to various HISA initiatives, as well as other related industry organisations and working groups.

Leigh Donoghue

Managing Director, Health ANZ
Accenture

Leigh passionately believes in the mission of HISA: the need and opportunity to improve healthcare through better use of technology and information. This has been his focus for the past decade, working for the past three years on the PCEHR system as Accenture’s Health Lead (ANZ), and prior to this with the NHS on the National Programme for IT. Leigh believes Australia has come a long way already in e-health, but we have a lot further to go. He believes HISA is the strong and vibrant catalyst to bring this change and bring together the various players – public and private, providers, payers, vendors and policy-makers – to realise the promise of health informatics.

Dr George Margelis

Peter Williams

Healthcare Innovation Advisor
Oracle

Peter has over twenty five years experience in healthcare and has worked in senior executive positions in information management and technology in two state health departments and nationally. He is currently Oracle’s Healthcare Industry Advisor for Australia and New Zealand helping healthcare organisations to undertake business transformation and digital evolution, and is responsible for developing health industry patterns that are used across Asia-Pacific and Europe. He is a member of several international working groups on health information technology standards and is the current Treasurer and past President of the Australasian College of Health Informatics.

Dayna Williamson

General Manager
Queensland Genomics
Health Alliance

Dayna Williamson is an experienced health system strategist and engagement specialist, Dayna has led clinical improvement and health system design projects across Queensland. After leading the development and implementation of Metro North Hospital and Health Service’s clinical engagement strategies and programs, Dayna co-led the design and delivery of an innovative approach for a 10 year health service strategy for Metro North. Following a brief stint in the energy sector where Dayna introduced person and community centered methods for customer strategies, engagement and experience within Qld’s Electricity Distribution businesses, Dayna returned to the healthcare industry to take up the role of General Manager at Qld Genomics Health Alliance. Dayna’s passion, enthusiasm and commitment to innovation in business and healthcare has seen her win multiple international awards including the 2016 Global Business Challenge and the Houston Technology Centre Award for Innovation at the2016 Sasin Business Competition in Thailand.

Precision MedicineWorking Definition

Precision Medicine seeks and analyses a wide range of patient information, such as clinical observations, biomarkers (including genomics) and patient generated data. It triangulates this information within the context of lifestyle, behaviour, environment and medical history to inform and personalise prevention, diagnosis and treatment at an individual, patient cohort and population level. As an emerging clinical practice, precision medicine will adapt and transform over time by incorporating innovation and discovery, resulting in bespoke care.

Explanatory Notes:

Working Definition
The HISA Precision Medicine Community of Practice Steering Committee developed this working definition for the following reasons:

There are a number of different definitions in use internationally and around Australia

We want to ensure that when we, as an informatics community, have a discussion about Precision Medicine we are all talking about the same thing

We need a definition that is understood by our audience which has a broad range of levels of clinical understanding and a definition that may evolve over time.

TerminologyBiomarkers – A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may also be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition.Omics – Precision Medicine includes all omics, such as genomics, proteomics or metabolomics, but for reasons of simplicity and the wide ranging understanding of our potential audience, at this stage we have only specifically mentioned genomics.

In the issue of the Medical Journal of Australia published just prior to the November 2007 election, a number of commentators including the Federal Minister and Shadow Minister reflected on the Australian health system and their plans for its future. The members of the Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) believe there is a yawning gap in this analysis both in terms of the size of the problem and how it might be fixed.

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Late 2006 CQU established the electronic Journal of Health Informatics (eJHI) with a large international editorial board.

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Australian Government Budget 2008-09 Summary of e-Health and health information measures.

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The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) has convened three groups of experts, clinicians and academics to develop practical policy options across a range of areas.

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The Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) made a proposal to the E-Health Branch of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) that a review of the health informatics workforce be undertaken and were subsequently contracted to „prepare a background discussion paper which sets out the scope and structure of the health informatics workforce and draw together a summary of the key issues, gaps and opportunities for further work to be undertaken on this issue’. This then is a scoping study.

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HISA and HIMAA have recommended health informatics and health information management expertise is present at all levels of governance within a proposed Australian Commission for Electronic Health (ACeH).

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On behalf of Australia’s digital health community, HISA commends this submission to the Sustainable Health Review Panel, and wish them well in their deliberations. Our Board and members would welcome further involvement in the review process, either within the Panel’s current terms of reference or beyond.

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This publication is the second volume in HISA’s Thought Leadership Series. It represents a compilation of the content presented at the conference, as well as themes raised in discussions and networking. We thank Nigel Chartres who has authored this report and all presenters and attendees who contributed directly and indirectly to the content.

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This publication is the inaugural volume in HISA’s Thought Leadership Series. It represents a compilation of the content presented and the discussions held at Data Governance 2011. We thank Nigel Chartres who has authored this report and all presenters and attendees who contributed directly and indirectly to the content.

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This position statement has been developed to recognise the pivotal role of nurses in the widespread implementation and adoption of digital health technologies throughout the healthcare sector for the primary purpose of improving safety and quality of patient care. The successful planning, implementation, management and sustainability of such technologies cannot be achieved without the unique contribution of nurses.

All Individual Members Receive:

✔ Special offers

✔ Opportunities to network/contact other members

✔ Access to member only job postings

✔ FREE attendance to state branch events

✔ Exclusive tickets to SIG events

✔ Access to member only content

✔ Member newsletter

✔ Access to members-only webinars

✔ Discounts to HISA bookshop – save up to 40%

Ordinary/MACHI*/FACHI* members also receive:

✔ FREE subscription to Pulse+IT Magazine valued at $99

✔ Discounts to HISA conferences

✔ Nominate and vote for HISA State Committee

✔ Nominate and vote for HISA National Board

✔ Discount off CHIA (certification) valued at $115

✔ Discount off CHIA Text Book valued at $90

Concession** members also receive:

✔ FREE subscription to Pulse+IT Magazine valued at $99

✔ Discounts to HISA conferences

✔ Students may nominate and vote for HISA State Committee

Affiliates for new members onlyAffiliate membership is an introductory membership available only for new members to HISA and not available for existing or previous HISA members. Affiliate membership is a great way to get to know the organisation with a limited number of benefits. This membership is available for a maximum of 2 years for an individual.

* HISA + ACHI COMBINED MEMBERSHIP. Membership is assessed by ACHI.MACHI – granted to individuals who have a recognised level of achievement within the health informatics discipline. Post-nominals of MACHI are awarded. Must complete MACHI application form.FACHI – granted to individuals who have made a substantial achievement and contribution within the health informatics discipline. Post-nominals of FACHI are awarded. Must complete FACHI application form.

** CONCESSION MEMBERSHIP.Student: Must provide proof of full-time enrolment.Concession: Members must hold a government health care card and provide a valid copy upon registration.Retired: Retirees who have been ordinary members for the past 2 years. No voting rights & cannot be elected onto the board or committees.

All Organisational Members Receive:

✔ Opportunities to network/contact other members

✔ Access to premium job postings and talent pool

✔ FREE attendance to State Branch events

✔ Exclusive tickets to SIG events

✔ Access to members-only content

✔ Member newsletter

✔ Access to members-only webinars

✔ Discounts to the HISA Bookshop (save up to 40%)

✔ FREE subscriptions to Pulse+IT Magazine valued at $99/nominee

✔ Receive special offers

✔ Discounts to HISA conferences

✔ Nominate and vote for HISA National Board/State Committee x1

✔ Personal invitations to attend State branch events

✔ Development opportunities for your team

✔ Discount off CHIA (certification) valued at $115/nominee

✔ Discount off CHIA Text Book valued at $90/nominee

PLUS:

Tier 3 – has 3 nominated seats

Tier 6 – has 6 nominated seats

Tier 11 – has 11 nominated seats

Tier 21 – has 21 nominated seats

Academic* – has unlimited nominated seats

* ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP eligibility criteria: AIM is for tertiary institutions that have health informatics programs or courses (teaching and/or research) – does not need to be specifically named HI course, e.g. public health, health information management etc. is ok. Provides HISA memberships for all faculty and higher degree by research students (Masters by Research or PhD students).

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The competencies set the minimum requirements in terms of skills, knowledge, understandings and capabilities that will enable a candidate to perform in a professional environment. The competencies serve to define what health informatics professionals know and do. This framework can also be used as a set of guidelines for recruiting purposes, definitions of career pathways, or the design of educational and training activities.

They provide the context in which the questions for the CHIA exam have been developed.

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The Guidelines serves as a resource to assist the health sector as a whole, and especially healthcare professionals, to protect the personal health information (PHI) they require to do their work, and to meet their role and responsibilities.

They describe key security and privacy issues faced by healthcare organisations and offers guidance for responding to these issues. It is not an all-encompassing guide on the protection of PHI; rather, it is designed as a stepping stone to help healthcare organisations address common concerns, avoid confusion, and prevent misunderstandings. http://healthprivacy.org.au/

Hard Copy: Price includes postageAllow up to 3 business days for processing your order

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Will your digital health implementation be a success story? How will you make sure your digital health implementation is safe?

The Australian eSafety Professional Practice Guidelines are being released for trial implementation initially, as it is important to acknowledge that patient safety in relation to digital health systems is a topic that continues to evolve, with a growing evidence base and emerging best practices being applied in a number of countries and jurisdictions. The guidelines are the first publication specifically tailored for the Australian digital health sector.

Hard Copy: Price includes postageAllow up to 3 business days for processing your order

PDF Copy: Packaged ZIP file, includes 3 PDF files

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A comprehensive body of knowledge that focuses explicitly on the needs of practitioners in the field of health informatics in Australia. It also covers the competencies tested in the CHIA exam; a valuable asset for CHIA candidates.

The Practitioner’s Guide has also been developed with other purposes in mind, including orientation for professionals such as clinicians or ICT professionals new to health informatics and updates for health informaticians wishing to maintain the currency of their knowledge, irrespective of certification.

If you purchased the first edition of A Practitioner’s Guide to Health Informatics in Australia, please email [email protected] for a special price to purchase the second edition.

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In the issue of the Medical Journal of Australia published just prior to the November 2007 election, a number of commentators including the Federal Minister and Shadow Minister reflected on the Australian health system and their plans for its future. The members of the Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) believe there is a yawning gap in this analysis both in terms of the size of the problem and how it might be fixed.